Brooder to coop transition

[in2camo]

So I've built a fairly large coop for my little balls of energy. They are 7 weeks old and I'm transitioning them from the brooder to the coop. I have a heat source in there and the food and water is in the coop. The question is, how long should I leave them in the coop before I let them wander through the dirt? I have the access door closed at the moment so they're just hanging out inside.

 

[Julia62]

Does your outside area have a run that is protected from predators (if you have them)? If so, I would let them out now (depending on outdoor temperature).

I have my 6 week old chicks in a coop (they are inside at night still) with attached run and an extra "play pen" outside of that that is covered with netting. They have a dirt dust bath pan ( and use it!). They are out pecking and eating grass and being chickens. Our older hens are used to them now so I'm hoping when we let them totally free, their won't be too much pecking going on.

 

[nordicacres]

I have a five week old and a bunch of six week olds and they have started free ranging during the day within the last week. I put them back in the coop if I need to leave, but otherwise the coop door is open and they can come and go as they please. We do not have a lot of daytime predators here and we are frequently outside during the day.

 

[in2camo]

So I left the coop door open this morning and they were down in the run when I checked on them at lunch. They seemed happy to be out and "roaming" free. And when I say free, I mean in the 8x8 totally hardware cloth enclosed run. One even walked back up the ladder to grab a drink while I was watching. For now I still have food and water inside.